Popping the hood (bonnet, sorry)

Now. Now the whole thing is starting to feel real. It's no longer this wisp in the distance, an idea that might not make it off the ground. We've got the rig, we've told everyone we're going. We're in it now whether we like it or not. For the first time in my life, I had an idea and have followed through in a timely fashion. Up until now, I was good at pipe dreams. But, as the old saying goes, those in motion, stay in motion. And I've got to use this momentum as it might never roll quite this quickly and succinctly again. So, I hold on to my rolling rock for dear life and hope for the best. And on this rolling rock, sometimes I will be on top and sometimes I will be crushed by the sheer...no, no, no, far too dramatic. Sometimes you're ahead, and sometimes you're behind, and both produce interesting stories.

We have now had the engine looked at. Well, it is being looked at at the moment. We have been quoted anywhere from $500 - $1500 for potential repairs. It depends what they find over the next day or so. The transmission needs to be flushed, spark plugs and caps all changed, a new battery, a new transmission pan, and here's the clincher - potentially a new exhaust. With an RV, these things are custom made. They are very  long and very individual. If it turns out that this needs to be replaced, the whole rig will have to be sent off to a muffler shop where they will hand make and weld us a new one. This is the difference between it being in the hundreds or heading into the thousands. All extremities are crossed, and so should yours be!

Luckily I have come to terms with the fact that this is now a project, a fixer upper, a money vacuum. With the money we have saved and spent on it, we could have gone back down to South America for another few months. But this is the path we have chosen, and I still don't regret it. I'm looking forward to doing a bit of travelling in a country where I speak the language and am familiar with the customs. Being out of your comfort zone is a phenomenal experience, and this one will test it in very different ways. We essentially have a second home, and it can be wherever our whim takes us. It might not come with a gardener and pool boy, but I'm prepared to live without it. Plus, I think pool boy is just a euphemism for 'younger man I'm having an affair with.' I've already got myself a younger man, so I'm fine in that department too!

We have made lists of everything we need to buy, everything we need to do. The buy list looks like this so far:

To Buy

GPS - ?

Hand blender - craigslist or goodwill

distilled water

new battery

vent covers

Heavy Duty storage bags

plastic bottles

plastic cups & mugs - goodwill

plastic plates

pressure gauge

tool box & car tool box

LED touch lights - amazon

Oil (5W30)

compass

torch

atlas

folding chairs- walmart

funnel

vacuum - walmart

electric heater - amazon

bed sheets -goodwill

cover for sink

BBQ

air filters

oil filters

The stuff in red we have purchased. We made the dreaded trip to Walmart. We have been very... conservative (the term Dave and I use is not so culturally sensitive), with the money we spend. I trawl the internet looking for the best deals. Sadly, it comes down, a lot of the time, to amazon.com and walmart.com. I look forward to the day (if there ever is one) that we don't have to check and abide by what is $2 cheaper here or there. Although, I do get satisfaction out of paying less than I would have.

We had our first relaxing afternoon in it a couple weekends ago. We brought hot dogs to cook, sat and had a beer, vacuumed, made the place feel like ours. It was amazing. It was the first time I looked at the rig with affection. I can see us in it, and now I'm excited. Dave managed to get out during the week and on to the roof to do some repairs. It has rained every Saturday since we bought the bloody thing, making roof repairs impossible. But this weekend it is going to be in the 80's and sunny. Hoorah!

Now we just need to get the tires inspected. That is the last potentially expensive surprise. Could be another grand, or maybe we get lucky. I'm not hedging my bets either way. It will be what it will be.

Que sera, sera!